Saddam minister 'in NZ' says Peters

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters claims a former high-ranking minister in Saddam Hussein's government is hiding in New Zealand seeking refugee status - but the Government says it knows nothing about the matter.

Mr Peters said he would not name the man now, but would do so in due course.

The Iraqi was said to have been an Iraqi minister in the late 1980s and 1990s who fled Iraq during the last war. The former minister then moved from Jordan to New Zealand about a month ago.

The person is said to be seeking refugee status.

Mr Peters said the case of Ahmed Zaoui had sent a message to the rest of the world that New Zealand was a "soft touch for any bogus asylum seeker or refugee".

A spokesman for Immigration Minister Paul Swain said the minister had no knowledge, and neither did the Immigration Service, of any application of that nature.

Mr Peters said that demonstrated how out of touch Mr Swain was.

"I'm saying this person is in this country seeking refugee status now, and I stand by it."